Colorado Strengthens Vaccine Rules

April 17, 2015 AT 10:40 AM

The state Board of Health on Wednesday passed new immunization rules that officials say strengthen school policies and will improve the state's low vaccination rates.

The new rules, effective July 2016, will require parents seeking non-medical exemptions from school and child-care vaccine requirements to submit them more than once. They will be required at each age when recommended vaccines are due for pre-kindergartners and annually from kindergarten through 12th grade.

Gov. Gavin Newsom and Mayor Bill de Blasio initiated ambitious plans this week to cover drastically more residents, including undocumented immigrants who are not currently eligible for subsidized insurance.